Beauty Of Your Face,The

I read this book as a part of the Read for Palestine and Palestinian Voices campaign and am so happy I chose it. From the very first line, I knew this book would be a five-star read, and it didn't deviate even a bit throughout.The book oscillates between Afaf's childhood, when she has no memory of her mother's homeland - Palestine and adulthood, when she fights deep-rooted Islamophobia every day. Afaf, the principal of the Muslim girls' school in Chicago, battles every day against the fathers of her students to continue their education. She wants to give the women in her community the power of education to prove themselves to the world. But her ambitions are threatened when an Islamophobic armed terrorist enters her school and starts firing. Will she escape, and will the Muslim women find the courage to enter a school again? Will she rebuild her and others' futures after the attack? Will Islamophobia ever stop, and will the world start seeing Muslims as humans first?This book is a very bold attempt in explaining the misconception that exists in Islam and how even Muslims don't seem to understand the core values too well. Afaf's spiritual journey from a nonbeliever to a firm follower against her immigrant mother's wishes was natural and smooth. The friction between her and her mother was palpable, and her troubled childhood as a middle child brought tears to my eyes. From someone who was confused about why her sister Nada escaped the torments of her house by fleeing away to someone coming to understand her mother's longing for her land, Afaf's characterisation was humanesque and flawless. This book is one of the must-read own voice books based on Palestine. I finished it in two days, and you will not regret it.

The way it is written is appluable, though loved to read more about Nada towards the end. Humans emotions well narrated.

Good

This book is a debut novel of prize winning short story writer Sahar Mustafa.Intertwining past and present, this books looks into thr life of afaf, whose family has escaped from Palestine. The writing is sublime for such a complex plot filled with varied emotions and timelines.At the outset, the books appear to be about hate crime as portrayed in a shooting in all girls Muslim school by a white American, but it is way more than that. It details the struggle of a culturally conflicted Palestinian woman, her religious growth in light of difficulties she faced in childhood and adulthood.Sahar has done brilliant job in drawing a line between terrorist and Muslims. She also has perfectly infused Arabic greetings, phrases, name of certain dishes and things, which added a flavour to the story line.

Devoured the book and the story was gripping. I wish there was a glossary of terms to quickly refer to.

Really amazing read, really well written and unexpected events throughout the book. I wish it was longer because I didn’t want it to end!!!

ow do I even begin to describe the way that The Beauty of Your Face by Sahar Mustafa took my heart, cradled it, and then broke it so completely that months later, I want to weep just because I looked at its cover for longer than two seconds?Because that's how amazing, and tragic, and incredible, and beautiful, this story is.Afaf is a Palestian-American principal of a girls' Muslim school, when one day, the unthinkable happens: a school shooter infiltrates the school and wreaks murder. As the sound of gunshots reverberate throughout the school halls, we are transported, with Afaf, to the past - to learn how it all led to this moment.The Beauty of Your Face is a book that stands out from other Muslamic novels: Islam is not a side fact or cultural background, but a dynamic part of Afaf's story and growth as a character; she comes not from an oppressive religious household, but a struggling family that contends with mental health and alcoholism; her father is not a villain, but loves his daughters, and changes for the better. The politics of Islamophobia is not topic for pontificating, but woven into the daily reality of the characters. Even the school shooter is not a soulless figure: we learn about him, too, and it is more tragic than one could imagine.I first read The Beauty of Your Face on the Kindle app, bc I was skeptical as to how good it could really be. I devoured it within two days, constantly needing to stop to wail over how sad it is and good it is, and then plunged back into it. Then I bought a hardcopy, because I *needed* to hold it in mine own hands!Arab-American/ Muslim-American novels can be hit-or-miss experiences (with too many misses, sometimes) - but The Beauty of Your Face only strikes home, deep and sure, and will never let you go. You will ugly cry, and thank the author for it too.

An introduction to a culture I knew little about. Beautifully rendered. Pain, love & coming to know who you are is truly universal. A terrific book!

I was unsure about this book at the beginning but after a few pages I was hooked.An eye opener to make you think about another persons perspective when they move to a completely different country and culture and the problems they face when growing up.A great story to show how a life can be turned around from a troubled teen to a successful adult.